A group of eight NGOs and think tanks, including CAN Europe, ECOS, E3G, and Transport & Environment, sent a letter to the European Commission on Monday 29 November, calling on it to ensure that the forthcoming revision of the European Directive (2018/844) on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) puts the sector on a climate neutral path.
According to these organisations, all new buildings should be highly energy efficient, sustainable and based solely on renewable energy by 2025.
This includes setting binding thresholds for minimum energy use in new buildings and ending the installation of fossil fuel-based appliances such as gas boilers.
Furthermore, they call on the Commission to introduce mandatory minimum energy performance standards for all existing buildings, including residential buildings, by integrating them “in a comprehensive framework of technical and financial support, with social safeguards to ensure decent, affordable housing to those living in energy poverty”.
In their view, energy performance certificates should become mandatory for all private and public buildings.
The proposed revision of the EPBD, a draft of which has been leaked to the press (see EUROPE 12841/4), is expected to be unveiled on 14 December.
See the letter: https://bit.ly/3xV4Bt7 (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)